Check Engine Light DON'T COME ON.

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Cpt Marvel

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Just bought this 03 last week. 3.7, 4x4, Auto. Didn't have any warning lights on the dash, so I'm thinking "cool". Went to fill it with gas, noted the gas cap MISSING. Thought, that should throw a code. Had a beer, thought about it. Stuck the key in the ignition to run the power up tests. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT! WTF? Talked to a mech, he said maybe the bulb was out. Last time I had a Chrysler was in the 70s and they had little bulbs. Pulled the instrument panel out today. No bulbs. LEDs. So crap. Now what??

Also: When the 4x4 selector is in the full down (2H) position, the "Part time" dash light is on. When I pull it up one position to 4H, the light goes off and none come on. It is most assuredly in 4 wheel drive, I can feel it while making a sharp turn. When I put into 4L, that light DOES come on.

And what does KJ mean?
 

nullptr

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KJ is the internal designation of the chassis used by Jeep.

The Cherokee was the XJ and the 2008+ Liberty is the KK.

As for the 4wd indicator light, that's a common issue. There's a thread in the How To section about changing the Transfer Case Position Switch.

I thought the KJ had in the instrument cluster, huh. Not sure on that regard, to be honest.
 

CactusJacked

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Pulled the instrument panel out today. No bulbs. LEDs. So crap. Now what??

Simple, pull out the LED for the CEL and replace with a conventional bulb. Either that one is defective, or the power used to illuminate an incandescent CEL bulb isn't compatible with LED's.
 

Cpt Marvel

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Nullptr
Thanks for that, kind of figured it might be a common issue. Going to see if there was a simple adjustment for it.
 
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Cpt Marvel

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Simple, pull out the LED for the CEL and replace with a conventional bulb. Either that one is defective, or the power used to illuminate an incandescent CEL bulb isn't compatible with LED's.



No bulb socket. LED is soldered to the circuit board. I could de-solder it and put another in, but at this point I don't know if it's the LED or the circuit.
 

Cpt Marvel

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Use a test light and see if it illuminates when the dash goes through it's key-on lights-on mode.



LOL! Totally don't need to. I lifted the circuit board up a tad to shine a light behind it. Wanted to verify which would be the "malfunction indicator light" so I would touch the test light to the correct LED. Freaking LED ain't there. Just empty holes. Guessing I'd be better off finding another instrument cluster assy or circuit board.
 
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nullptr

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LOL! Totally don't need to. I lifted the circuit board up a tad to shine a light behind it. Wanted to verify which would be the "malfunction indicator light" so I would touch the test light to the correct LED. Freaking LED ain't there. Just empty holes. Guessing is be better off finding another instrument cluster assy or circuit board.

That's screwed up
 

M38 Bob

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I have customers who would pay good money if that light never came on again!:gr_grin:

Bob
 

CactusJacked

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Guess your mechanics suspicion was right, the bulb is "out". lol
Definitely want to scan your Jeep for error codes, Autozone will do it for free. Maybe the previous owner was trying to hide a problem, or is simply just a doofus, or very likely both.
 

Cpt Marvel

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Found a cluster on eBay. I'll order that and finger it out from there. Doubt they noticed it not coming on. And there are no marks or mars indicating it was de-soldered. Not my daily driver so I got time to play.
 

Phil + Neela

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Are you in a state that does safety inspections? It's not uncommon here in Hawaii for people to "adjust" their check engine lights so they can pass the safety inspection.


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CactusJacked

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Are you in a state that does safety inspections? It's not uncommon here in Hawaii for people to "adjust" their check engine lights so they can pass the safety inspection.

But it won't pass an emissions test, if there's an error code tripping the "adjusted" light.
 

Cpt Marvel

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Put the "new" cluster in yesterday. Everything seems to work fine. Engine light came on at startup, went back off. Drove it around for 30 miles or so under varying conditions. Light never came on as I expected it would.
 

M38 Bob

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Put the "new" cluster in yesterday. Everything seems to work fine. Engine light came on at startup, went back off. Drove it around for 30 miles or so under varying conditions. Light never came on as I expected it would.

Would also have been a GREAT day to have bought some lottery tickets!

Bob
 

libertybob

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Put the "new" cluster in yesterday. Everything seems to work fine. Engine light came on at startup, went back off. Drove it around for 30 miles or so under varying conditions. Light never came on as I expected it would.

What mileage does the odometer show? The mileage on your Liberty or the mileage on the Liberty the cluster came from? My understanding is that the cluster stores the mileage not the PCM so my question. Can we pull a cluster from a salvage yard car, install it in our Liberty, and have the correct mileage on our Liberty shown in the odometer? I thought the cluster had to have the Vin and mileage entered to function, so am I wrong? Hope so...
 
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